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Wednesday, August 17, 2011

First Day of High School

Erin is a freshman in high school.  Time has surely flown.  I seems like yesterday, I was taking her to Miss Sheri's and then pre-school.  I drove her to Immanuel for 11 years.  Now she walks to school.  She has grown up.   I hope her days of high school are fun and exciting!!!

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Sorrow and Hope

On Sunday, May 22, 2011, an F5 1 mile wide tornado hit the town of Joplin, Missouri. Joplin is located in southwest Missouri close to the Oklahoma border, and approximately 289 miles from St. Louis. Twelve people from church, six adults and six teens all drove down to Joplin this past Friday night to volunteer for the clean-up.

After getting lost several times during the ride, we finally arrived at First Lutheran Church of Neosho. We stayed at that church because the church in Joplin was reserved for another group. We were warmly welcomed by the Pastor of that church, (I'm sorry I don't remember his name). He was so glad to see us, and made us feel at home. He proceeded to tell us how he has three members of his congregation who were majorly affected by the storm. The one that stood out in my mind was the single mother of three children who not only lost her home, but two of her three children. How any parent can endure such loss is mind boggling. Her oldest daughter was killed during the actual tornado and her son died in a Springfield, Missouri hospital several hours later with his father at his side. Her two year old was flown to Kansas City, where she was treated and is now recovering. The mom is still recovering from her injuries. Please keep this family in your prayers. They will need them for the long years ahead. A woman from our group, Kan, gave the pastor a cash donation for this family. It was 2/3 of a hard earned paycheck from one of her co-workers. He insisted that she take it. I know God will continue to bless this man.  Pastor also told me how many critically injured were taken straight to the morgue even though they were still breathing, because their injuries were too severe to survive. 
Pastor then proceeded to tell me that he served two years in Viet Nam, was shot down several times, but felt his time in Nam was a "cake walk" compared to the devestation he witnessed. As a first responder, he helped rescue may injured people, and I know he brought great comfort to the grieving.   He told of the Baptist minister from the local church who held the hand of a 10 year old boy until he died so he wouldn't die alone.   I'm sure if his parents survived they were comforted by this man's unselfish love.  Disease is also an enemy right now.  The Pastor was just released from spending two weeks in the hospital because he breathed in a toxin.  Flesh eating bacteria is another risk. 

After a restless night sleep (floors are not conducive to good rest), we got up early, ate breakfast at McDonald's and drove the 30 miles to Joplin. As we got closer to town, we starting seeing some trees down and some other "minor" damage. (Nothing is minor when it comes to a tornado). We arrived at Immanuel Lutheran Church, and after checking in, was given our assignment. The church is providing a huge service to volunteers with a tractor trailor filled with work gloves, shovels, rakes, wheel barrows, power tools, and anything else you might need. They also had a trailer outfitted with showers which after the long, hot, dusty day was more welcoming than you can imagine. Another man was on the parking lot stocking coolers with donated ice, water and sports drinks for each group to take with them. Kan also had several boxes of donations from the company she works for, Ariel, so she had to offload that so we could fit the wheelbarrow in her car. We finally moved to our assignment. It was to rake the ground of debris from a house that had been torn down. Families have until August 7 to get their house knocked down, (if it was condemed), and all debris to the curb. They were given a deadline because when Katrina hit, no deadlines were established, and no one had any incentive to clean up their property. 
Here are some pictures of our group, what the neighborhood looked like, and our "after" picture of the property.
Tim, Alex, Matthew, Nick, Erin, Tyler, Alice, Mark, Bob, Betty, Kay and Kan  (I took the picture)


This was the property that a man named Dan lived on.  His house is at the curb

The Red Cross gave us drinks, and snacks

Furniture and belongings are still inside what's left of a neighbor's house
Everyone working hard (Dan's house at the curb)

This house was lifted off it's foundation and moved away from the chimney on the right

This house had been remodled prior to the storm.  Most houses on the street didn't have vinyl siding
As you can see, there was a lot of damage on this street. We were blessed to meet the neighbors next to the house we cleaned up. They were an older couple who were as sweet as could be. They had a group of teens working in their yard also, and they were very kind to offer us their hose and soap to wash our hands and clean up when we were finished. The woman proceeded to tell us how they survived by huddling in their bathtub. The man said he never heard the storm because he was shouting prayers of mercy to Jesus above the noise. They told us how they lost their precious dog, how they were in the bathroom, and their dog was in the hallway. As the tornado sucked out the air conditioner window unit from their house (they do not have central air), the dog was critically injured in the process. The dog's name was Casey, and the woman told how she picked Casey up and told her they were going to get her help. Casey died in the woman's arms.  You could see the sadness in her eyes and hear it in her voice as she talked about her beloved dog.

Next we went back to the Joplin High School (now temporarily called Hope High School because the only two letters remaining on the sign were O and P and someone took duct tape and renamed it) where there was a tent set up for free food, water, and personal supplies.  Volunteers barbecue hamburgers, and hot dogs, serve potato salad, and a hot pasta dish along with water, sports drinks and cookies. These people work endlessly, and many local people come here to get a free meal, and talk with other survivors. While I was there, I was looking at a poster that was made by someone that showed pictures that people took of volunteers, and a small memorial to lost loved ones. It was extremely touching and hard not to get "choked up". One of the quotes that some one wrote said... "Life is not waiting for the storm to pass...It's about learning to go dance in the rain". Sometimes we complain about the littlest things, but really if you had to trade places, you would want your problems back in a heartbeat.  The spirit of survivors is also touching.  While I was in line to get food, a radio was blasting Christian music.  The song "I Can Only Imagine" by Mercy Me came on and immediately the volunteers serving started singing along with the chorus. Their joy and smiles were beautiful as they sang  praises to their Savior. 

The back of the high school and the parking lot.  This picture doesn't show the extensive damage of the school

This is the side/front of the school

I met the most charming woman. Her name was Christina. She started telling me about all of the heartache she suffered several weeks prior to the storm, a sick father-in-law, death of a grandmother, financial hardship. Her daughter was 18 and graduated that night from high school. (It was a blessing that the graduation was held at a local college and not at the school. I am convinced that more people would have perished.) Anyway, she said they had come home and decided to watch a thunderstorm from their front porch. She had been in two other tornados, but her husband and daughter had not. She also said that when the second siren went off, it had been so long between the two sirens that they didn't think much about it. Suddenly golf ball size hail started falling and the sky turned a greenish/yellow. It was completely still when she saw the funnel cloud drop out of the sky. It enveloped every inch of sky that she could see. She gathered her family and dog and sought shelter in her bathroom. She said by the time they ran to shelter, the house was shaking so violently they barely made it to safety. Her newly gifted van was found two days later eight blocks away, but the family Bible was untouched.  She told me I was the first person she told her story to without crying. Counseling is free for victims, but getting appointments is extremely hard. The one time she did see the counselor they told her to talk about it to anyone who would listen. I was so glad I was there for her, and able to hear her story.  She broke my heart. I will pray for Christina and her family.


After lunch, we went to our next assignment which was again clearing property of debris. This property was owned by an elderly woman named Sylvia. I only know this because I found her yearbook from 1954, and some cancelled checks from a long time ago. She had all of her "saved" possessions covered with a tarp sitting in her yard. The rest of her house was torn down. I hope she gets a nice house when everything is finished.

The tornado destroyed 7000 homes and 500 businesses. Out of that 7000, only 3500 homes will be rebuilt. Many people have moved to other towns, or due to lack of insurance cannot rebuild. It is extremely disturbing to see what were once thriving neighborhoods have become nothing more than  empty lots.  Street signs are missing and it can be hard to find locations without a satellite device. The apartment complex that made the news was completely demolished.  It's as if a box lost four of its' sides and the top.  Furniture and appliances could still be seen sitting where they stood.  It was heartbreaking.    One of the jobs we did was to remove nails from lumber. Trucks brought loads of 2 x 4's, 2 x 6's, roof trusses and other salvagable debris, concrete blocks, etc. for recycling. There is a gentleman who is building 1000 10 X 10 "storage shelter" type buildings for folks needing shelter. It will have a solar panel and literally a place to sleep.  Some homeless people have set up tents on the school property.
Displaced person's tent and the high school gym behind it
Which brings me to the high school. The school I work at has undergone new construction and a renovation this summer. Many hands have gone into getting the building ready for the start of school. I never thought it would be completed on time, but I now know that it will at least be habitable by the start of school. The students at Joplin High will be attending school in another location which has to be hard on them to see their "old" school so severly damaged, and deal with the grief of knowing that many of their friends have died.  The school has asbestos in it so destruction and rebuilding cannot begin until the haz mat team does their clean up. 

Below are some additional pictures of the weekend. Our group went through Lutheran Charities. The best way to help is to go through a reputable organization.  If you are able to help these people, please try.  Donations are always accepted.  Christina (the survivor from above) is afraid that after school starts and towards Christmas, that people will forget about them.  It's really easy for us to go there, help and go on with our lives.  Their lives have been changed forever.  One of our adults summed it up this way.  She said, "These folks never thought they would be spending their summer like this",  not only volunteers but victims. I have heard people ask  "where was God?"  I tell them "He was holding everyone in his mighty arms."
The hospital


Part of a subdivision that is now an empty lot

The 10 X 10 hut that some people will call home

Removing nails to recycle wood

My prayer now is that healing and joy will return to the lives of these hard working people.  Many families, particularly those who lost loved ones will never be the same.  Children and adults alike will never listen to the rain on their roof or a rumble of thunder without being reminded of what happened to them.   A verse from the Book of Psalms reminds me ..."weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning."  May God's peace be upon the people of Joplin, Missouri, and may their weeping turn to joy.

Peace.